Seifert Looks Back at 14 Year Career at Convention & Visitors Bureau

By: Adam Uhernik - Email

Updated: Fri 6:59 AM, Nov 16, 2012

The Executive Director of the Grand Island Hall County Convention and Visitors Bureau is stepping down to go back home and be with family.

Since she started her job in 1998 some major changes have taken place not only with the bureau but with events offered in Grand Island.

Renee Seifert has done a lot in the past 14 years. She and her long term staff are credited with taking the bureau to the next level, becoming an independent Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"We were the first one in the state of Nebraska and actually what has happened is many many other have followed suit over the last 15 years," said Former Executive Director Renee Seifert.

One of the organization's goals is to bring more people to the area so they spend money.

"We work to bring in new business to Grand Island, it's not permanent business it's what we call temporary business," said Seifert.

She's talking about the visitors gained by hosting a number of events. Seifert says ultimately the new markets will bring in new business, and bring more events like state volleyball that came in 2010.

"And that was more the concerted effort that we had with sports council. We have great facilities here and we really felt it was our time to start hosting those kinds of events because of the type of facilities that we do have," said Seifert.

In 2014 Grand Island will see the first State Fair Marathon.

"And we're going to see bigger and better things going on in this community," commented Seifert.

So with Seifert leaving, the long term staff will have to keep up the momentum while they await a new director.

"Will it fall apart? No it's not going to fall apart. My staff is very good and very capable, and I know they will be able to carry on," said Seifert.